Method for adapting separable fasteners for attachment to other objects

ABSTRACT

An adapted separable fastener and method of making the same for attachment to foam objects such as seat cushions. A separable fastener member of the hook and loop-type is attached, in back-to-back relation, to a second member. The second member has upstanding elements such as loops or hooking elements which elements are ultimately surrounded and encapsulated by the foam during polymerization. The adapted fastener is thereby attached to the foam member. The elements are positioned in order to allow venting of the gaseous byproducts of polymerization. This promotes superior adhesion to the foam material and prevents delamination at the fastener-foam interface. A metal strip may be disposed within the adapted fastener so it may be magnetically held in the foam mold. A method and apparatus for adapting the fastener is also disclosed.

This is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 756,005 filedon July 17, 1985 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a method for adapting separable fasteners ofthe hook and loop-type for attachment to other objects, particularlysuch objects as polyurethane foam or the like. The resultant uniqueadapted fastener, simplifies attachment of objects to other objects ormembers.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Hook and loop fasteners are well known and are used to join two partsdetachably to each other. These fastener strips consist of matingfastener tapes having hooks and loops respectively on each tape, whichon being pressed together will matingly engage each other to form aseparable connection. Such fastener strips are employed where ease ofconnection and disconnection is desired or where an infiniteadjustability within a circumscribed range is desired.

Although originally having their primary use in wearing apparel, suchseparable fasteners have expanded significantly in use. However, theareas of expansion have sometimes been limited by some of the propertiesof separable fasteners as now produced. For example, attaching thefasteners to other items has sometimes been difficult which difficultymay limit their use. A known method of attaching these fasteners to amultitude of members has been to stitch the fasteners to the item. Suchstitching procedure however is sometimes laborious, and is not alwaysavailable for attachment to bulky items. In particular wider strips areadvantageous for attachment to objects having surface delaminationproblems. Bonding or adhesively securing the fastener to other itemsrequires pressing the areas to be joined together for substantiallengths of time to permit curing of the bonding agent. In addition, whenpressing the active areas of the fasteners against the substrate memberthe hooks and/or loops of the fastener strips are often so deformed andcrushed that the tapes no longer function satisfactorily and therepeated fastening is no longer assured. Further, adhesive attachmentrequires adhesive compatibility between the fastener, the adhesive andthe adhesive of the object to which it will be attached.

For attachment of the fasteners to other objects such as polyurethanefoam seat cushions or the like, fastening of the tapes has beendifficult due to the lack of suitable adhesives or fastening techniques.In fact, in the case of seat cushions, such fasteners would make itpossible to separably attach seat covers or the like. Further,attachment of the fasteners to other known objects would facilitateattachment and detachment of known functioning items or appurtenanceswhich would not otherwise be possible.

It has been proposed in the prior art to attach the separable fastenerstrip to a substrate of absorbent or porous material such as a non-wovenmaterial. The fastener thus modified is attached to foam plasticarticles by positioning the adapted fastener within the mold such thatit absorbs the foam forming materials while they are in their liquidstate.

Under certain conditions and for unknown reasons the fastener-absorbentbacking assembly sometimes produces unsatisfactory results. For example,in some instances, relatively large areas of delamination occur alongthe connection of the backing and the foam article. It is believed suchdelamination is caused by skinning of the polymerizing material at theinterface of the article and the backing with the result that excessgases formed by the process become trapped thus creating largedelaminating bubbles rather than a secure attachment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

I have invented a method which adapts such separable fasteners forattachment to known objects either by known adhesives or by attachmentto plastic foam objects during the actual molding or other process offormation of the object, while avoiding the disadvantages of the priorart.

This invention comprises a method of adapting a separable fastenermember of the hook and loop-type for attachment to an object. The stepscomprise taking a separable fastener member having a plurality ofhook-type or loop-type engaging elements upstanding from one surface;and, simultaneously attaching the separable fastener member to a secondmember positioned in back to back relation with the surface of thefastener member opposite the surface having the engaging elements. Thesecond member has a plurality of elements upstanding from the oppositesurface, and the elements are capable of being surrounded andencapsulated by a material forming at least a part of the object.

The method of the invention may accomplish the attaching step byultrasonic attachment means, such as ultrasonically stitching theseparable fastener member to the second member.

Alternatively, the method may use an attaching step which comprises thesteps of applying an adhesive material to the second member, andpositioning the separable fastener member against the adhesive materialsuch that upon curing or drying of the adhesive material, the separablefastener member becomes adhesively attached to the second member. Inthis case the adhesive may be a hot-melt adhesive. When the hot-meltadhesive is used the method may further include subsequently directingthe separable fastener member and second member through a cooling zoneto shorten the setting time of the hot melt adhesive.

A second alternative is the use of solvent based adhesives in whichinstance the separable fastener member, and second member may bedirected through solvent removing means, to thereby shorten the settingtime of the adhesive disposed therebetween.

In any event the method may also include disposing a metal strip betweenthe separable fastener member and second member so as to render themmagnetically attractive. Once adapted the separable fastener may beattached to a synthetic foam member.

A further method of the invention produces a foam plastic article with aseparable fastener attached thereto by taking a separable fastenermember having a plurality of hook-type or loop-type engaging elementsupstanding from one surface; attaching the separable fastener member toa second member positioned in back to back relation with the surface ofthe fastener member opposite the surface having engaging elements. Thesecond member has a plurality of elements upstanding from the oppositesurface, which elements are capable of being surrounded and encapsulatedby a material forming at least a part of said article. This is followedby the steps of placing the separable fastener member and second memberassembly into a trough of a mold unit such that the elements extend intothe inner space of the mold; filling the mold with plastic foam formingcomponents in liquid form; allowing the forming components to surroundand encapsulate the elements without the elements interfering with thefree escape of excess gas from the space surrounding the elements; and,allowing said foam forming materials to cure, dry or set whileencapsulating the elements thereby creating a foam plastic article withsaid separable fastener attached thereto with its upstanding engagingelements extending away from the surface of the article. The article maybe modified by positioning a protective cover over the engaging elementsto protect them from contamination by the foam forming components. Afurther step may include heating the foam plastic article thus formed tothereby cure the plastic foam material.

When the heat curing step is used, the protective covering mayadvantageously be a polyethylene layer which melts and disintegrateswhen subject to the heat of curing of the foam plastic material.

The invention also includes an adapted separable fastener for attachmentto a foam plastic article. This fastener comprises a separable fastenermember of the hook and loop-type; a second member attached to saidseparable fastener member in back to back relation on the side of saidseparable fastener member opposite the side having said engagingelements; and a plurality of spaced elements extending from said secondmember which may be surrounded and encapsulated by plastic forming atleast part of said foam plastic article.

The adapted separable fastener of the second member may be wovenhook-type separable fastener tape prior to cutting the elements to formhooks, or woven hook-type separable fastener tape.

The adapted separable fastener may be such that the second member isadhesively attached to the separable fastener. In this case the adhesiveis a hot-melt adhesive, or a liquid based adhesive.

In some applications the adhesive is a solvent based adhesive.Alternatively, the adhesive is a water based adhesive, or an epoxyresin.

The invention also includes the adapted separable fastener forattachment to a foam plastic article comprising a separable fastenermember of the hook and loop-type; a second member attached to theseparable fastener member in back to back relation on the side of theseparable fastener member opposite the side having the engagingelements; and a plurality of elements extending from the second memberwhich are capable of being surrounded and encapsulated by plastic foamforming components while permitting the free escape of gas by-productsproduced by polymerization of the components thereby permittingattachment of said separable fastener member and said second member tothe finished foam article. The plurality of elements may comprise spacedupstanding loop-like elements extending from the surface of the secondmember opposite the surface attached to said separable fastener member.

The loops are preferably about one-eighth inch and three-eighths inch inheight. In one embodiment the second member and elements are hook-typeseparable fastener members. Also, a metal strip may be disposed betweenthe separable fastener member and the second member so as to render theadapted fastener magnetically attractive for secure positioning within aforming mold supplied with heavy duty magnets in predeterminedlocations.

A method for attaching a separable fastener to a foam plastic object isalso part of the invention. The steps include taking a separablefastener member having a plurality of hook-type or loop type engagingelements upstanding from one surface; positioning a metal strip in backto back relation with the surface of the fastener member opposite thesurface having engaging elements; and adapting the separable fastenermember for attachment to the foam plastic article by attaching theseparable fastener member to a second member positioned in back to backrelation with the surface of the fastener member opposite the surfacehaving engaging elements thereby sandwiching the metal striptherebetween. The second member has a plurality of elements upstandingfrom the opposite surface which are capable of being surrounded andencapsulated by a material forming at least part of said object. Furthersteps include positioning the adapted separable fastener member in atrough of a mold unit which trough has magnetic means to maintain theadapted fastener in position in the trough by magnetic attraction tosaid metal strip, the adapted fastener being positioned such that theelements extend into the inner space defined by the mold; introducingfoam forming components in liquid form into said mold so as to permitthe components to flow into and around said plurality of upstandingelements; allowing the foam forming components to surround andencapsulate the elements while undergoing polymerization and permittingfree venting of excess gases formed by the polymerization process.

This method may advantageously include attaching a plastic protectivecovering to the assembly, prior to placing the assembly in the trough,in a position covering the engaging elements of the separable fastenerso as to protect same from contamination by foam forming components.

The method may further include placing the object in a curing oven aftermolding in order to cure the foam and melt away the plastic protectivecovering.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the apparatus of the invention forpracticing the inventive method of adapting a hook and loop-typeseparable fastener member for attachment to another object.

FIG. 2 is a view of the ultrasonic stitching apparatus of one embodimentof the apparatus taken along lines 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the completed adapted fastener ofthe invention showing a separable fastener tape of molded plasticconstruction, a backing, a substrate, and a protective liner.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the completed adapted fastener ofthe invention taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4A is a partial cross-sectional view of an alternate form ofhook-type separable fastener tape of woven construction.

FIG. 4B is a partial cross-sectional view of the adapted fastener of theinvention incorporating an alternate form of hook-type separablefastener tapes having hooking elements having a mushroom configuration.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an adapted separable fastener and apolyurethane foam forming mold with trough for receiving and holding theadapted fastener during the molding process for molding an automobileseat cushion.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view, partially broken away, of the ultrasonichorn and anvil showing the ultrasonic stitching process of oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the second ultrasonic horn of oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 shows the adapted separable fastener used to hold automotiveupholstery onto a polyurethane seat cushion after the adapted fasteneris secured by the molding process to the foam material of the seatcushion.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 9--9 of FIG. 8illustrating the attachment interface between the adapted fastener andthe seat cushion of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The apparatus used for adapting the separable fastener member is shownoverall in FIG. 1 with further details illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6. Theapparatus shown in FIG. 1 is comprised of feeder rolls 10, 12 and 14which feed the strips of hook tape 16, substrate 18 and metal strip 20to the attaching unit 22. The attaching unit 22 may take a number offorms but is preferably a continuous ultrasonic stitching machine. Forexample, it may also be an adhesive applicator in conjunction withpressure rollers and a setting (or curing) station 24. The adhesive maybe a hot melt adhesive in which case the setting station would be arefrigeration unit. Alternatively the adhesive may be liquid, eitherwater or solvent based, in which instance the setting station would be asolvent removing means such as an oven. The preferred attaching unit isshown as an ultrasonic stitching device which ultrasonically stitchesthe members together. This type of unit is comprised of a horn 26 andanvil 28. The hook tape 16 may be molded or woven but is preferablymolded for automobile seat cushion applications as will be describedbelow. The molded hook tape is preferably of nylon and the substrate 18is preferably of woven construction and of a material which isultrasonically compatible with the hook tape. The substrate 18 has aplurality of elements 30 upstanding from one surface.

In the preferred embodiment, the hook tape 16 of the type disclosed inU.S. Pat. Nos. 3,708,833 to Ribich et al and 3,762,000 to Menzin et al.molded tape 16 is fed into ultrasonic stitching machine 34 with the hookside 32 facing upward that is, toward the top of FIG. 1. The ultrasonicstitching machine 34 is comprised of two major parts, the horn 26 andthe anvil 28 which includes a central sprocket-like portion 36 and twooutside stitching lands 38. The outside lands 38 are operative for partof the actual stitching process while the center sprocket 36 acts tofeed and center the substrate material. The two outside lands are spacedin such a manner that they ride just inside the edges of the separablefastener tape, that is, the width of their separation is determined bythe width of the separable fastener to be adapted.

The two outside lands 38 have a shape similar to a sprocket, but on asmaller scale than the central sprocket-like portion 36. They each havea series of tooth-like projections 40 spaced approximately 1/32 of aninch apart along the circumference of each land. In one embodiment, eachprojection is approximately 3/16 of an inch long as measured in thedirection of the circumference, 1/8 of an inch in width and of suitableheight sufficient to permit the horn to apply pressure to the tape whenthe tape is supported on the lands. Each projection supports the membersto be attached and has a small groove on its peak surface running in adirection transverse to the length of the tape. One function of thisgroove is to provide relief for the softened material.

The desired substrate 18 moves toward, and is mated in back-to-backengagement with the separable fastener tape 16 to be adapted. In thepreferred embodiment a strip of metal 20 is disposed between theseparable fastener tape 16 and the substrate 18. The metal strip 20 addsa magnetically attractive property to the fastener for purposes whichwill be described below. The separable fastener tape 16 and metal strip20 are fed onto the substrate 18 by rollers 10, 12 and 14. The separablefastener tape 16, the metal strip 20 and the substrate 18 are held intheir relative positions and orientation as they pass between the anvil28 and the ultrasonic horn 26. The ultrasonic horn 26 is positionedagainst the hook-tape 16 as indicated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 6, that is, theultrasonic horn 26 moves toward the anvil 28 while applying ultrasonicenergy to the components as they pass between the horn and the anvil.The ultrasonic horn is positioned such that as each land rotates to itspeak position, the fastener and substrate are squeezed between the anviland horn and continuously welded together by the ultrasonic energyprovided by the horn when the fastener and substrate and supported bythe anvil. The center section of the horn has an opening 42 such thatthe hooking elements of the tape pass through without interference. Themotions of the horn 26 and anvil 28 create a continuous series ofultrasonic stitches which appear on the tape as a series of spacedindentations. In one embodiment, each stitch is approximately 1/32 of aninch long (as measured in the lengthwise direction of the tape andspaced about 1/16 of an inch apart). The tape is left intact betweeneach stitch. Thereafter, the resultant product is a strip of substrateultrasonically stitched to a separable fastener tape with the hooks ofthe tape facing upward and a metal strip disposed therebetween. Thesubstrate is preferably wider than the separable fastener and thisleaves a margin of about 1/4 inch of substrate extending beyond theseparable fastener on either side.

The structure of substrate 18 is crucial to the invention to provide gasrelease and good adhesion without delamination or imperfections in thefoam. The substrate 18 has a plurality of elements 30 upstanding fromthe surface of a base 44 which is usually of woven construction. Theloops are arranged in generally parallel spaced apart non-overlappingrows contain individual spaced apart non-overlapping loop elements (seeFIGS. 3 and 4). The elements are spaced to allow free movement of foamforming components and gases around them. In the preferred embodiment,an uncut woven hook-type separable fastener tape is used as thesubstrate. That is, the usual hook-type tape is produced on a loom. Thetape is of the type usually made of woven nylon base having monofilamentnylon loops extending from one surface which are ultimately cut to formhook-type hooking elements. However, for the present application, whenthe tape is to be used as a substrate, the loop cutting process isbypassed and the loops remain as loops per se (i.e., uncut hooks). Theseloops are preferably from approximately 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch in heightand number approximately thirty-two in a line traversing a one andthree-quarter inch width tape. However, depending upon the actualfoam-forming components used, and the degree of attachment which isdesired, any size and density monofilament loops may be used. In fact,depending upon the precise circumstances, it is foreseeable to utilizeother types of loops, such as multifilament loops, provided that theactual loop density and the foam forming components and by-productsthereof are precisely matched as will be more accurately describedbelow.

After the separable fastener has been attached to the substrate theadapted fastener can either be rolled up on a spool 46 or cut to desiredlengths. Other operations may be performed on the product between theultrasonic stitching machine 34 and the take up spool 46 to improve orfacilitate end use of the product. In FIG. 1 the product exits theultrasonic stitching machine (or alternate attaching unit) and enters asecond ultrasonic machine 48. This station differs from the previousultrasonic station in that it has a flat anvil surface 50 in place ofthe rotary anvil at the first station. This second station is only usedwhen strips of predetermined length are desired. The second horn 52 hasno space to permit the hooking elements to pass without interference. Inoperation the tape is measured by measuring means which is usuallyautomatic. When the point on the tape where a cut is to be made has beendetermined the second horn comes down and ultrasonically flattens apredetermined area of the hooks of the molded tape and at the same timewelds them so as to be combined with the tape surface. This provides abroad weld area where a cut can be made at a cutting station 54, whichcut will leave two finished ends. The horn 52 is raised above thehooking elements to allow their passing without interference betweenpoints to be marked.

The product may also pass under a hot-melt adhesive dispenser 54 whichapplies adhesive to the margins 56 of the product formed by thesubstrate extending beYond the width of the fastener. The product andadhesive are passed through a refrigerated area 58 to cool the hot-meltadhesive partially, before applying a protective polyethylene liner 60from spool 62. The cooling is necessary for the proper function of theadhesive with the protective liner 60. The liner protects the hooks andadhesive in packaging (i.e. rolling on a reel) and also prevents thefoam forming components from contaminating the active hooking elementsduring the molding process discussed below.

After the adhesive and liner have been applied, the continuous tape isrun through a cutting apparatus 64. The cutting apparatus cuts the tapeacross a point substantially centered in the weld area created by thesecond ultrasonic horn. In this manner the fastener is completelyadapted for use while in continuous form and finally cut to lengthsdesired leaving finished ends on the product.

As shown in FIG. 5, the adapted fastener is placed in a pre-cut trough66 defined by walls 68, of a mold 70 for attaching the adapted fastenerto a polyurethane molded object such as an automobile seat cushion. Thefastener is placed with the polyethylene liner covered hooks facing intothe trough 66 and the substrate 18 exposed to the internal area of themold and elements 30 upstanding into the mold cavity. Within trough 66are heavy duty magnets 70. The magnets 70 attract the metal strip 20toward the bottom of the trough and thus maintain the adapted separablefastener securely in position against the mold during the moldingprocess.

When the mold is filled with polyurethane foam forming components, thefoam forming materials actually envelop the elements 30 of substrate 18while simultaneously undergoing polymerization. The foam formingcomponents expand and fill the recess formed by the walls of the mold70, and form the seat cushion. Unnecessary gaseous by-products ofpolymerization are readily vented past the monofilament loops, thusfacilitating unencumbered polymerization and secure envelopment of, andattachment to, the monofilament loops so that the adapted fastener isfirmly secured to the seat cushion when it is removed from the mold.When the forming components finally expand and set, the separablefastener remains securely attached to the seat cushion by virtue of thefact that the upstanding loop elements 30 become encapsulated by thepolymerized foam material. Other synthetic resin foam forming componentssuch as polystyrene or polyvinyl chloride may be used in place ofpolyurethane foam forming components.

It can be readily appreciated from the foregoing that alternate foams ofsubstrate material, other than materials having upstanding monofilamentloops, may be used. Such material should have upstanding members whichare compatible with the foam material used so that attachment is readilyand securely attained. Also such substrates must have upstanding memberswhich are dimensioned for attachment and which are particularly spacedto permit venting of gaseous by-products while eliminating problems ofskinning and delamination as was sometimes encountered in prior artattempts. In fact, it can be appreciated that it would be possible toutilize a multifilament loop material (i.e., the mating half of hook andloop separable fastener tape) provided that the multifilament loop areadensity and height are controlled to facilitate compatible attachment tothe foam material. Further, so long as the upstanding members areattachable to the foam material, they may take any form or shape suchas, for example, monofilament cut hooks, mushroom elements, or evenmolded upstanding elements. In the latter example, it is foreseeablewithin the scope of the invention, to attach two molded hook-typefastener loops in back-to-back relation, one side for attachment to thefoam member, the other for attachment to another mating surface, such asthe napped or fuzzy surface of an automobile seat cover.

As noted, the elements 30 are thus firmly embedded in and encapsulatedby the foam. Any foam which is formed from components which may haveleaked around the edges of the adapted fastener during the moldingprocess may be brushed away. This is easily done as the polyethyleneliner is still intact since most foams will not adhere to polyethylene.The formed object is then directed through a curing oven at about 250°F. which causes the polyethylene liner to melt and disintegrate.

The finished automobile foam seat cushion shown in FIG. 8 illustratesthe preferred application of the present invention wherein seat covermaterial 72 has a napped or fuzzy backing which readily engages anddisengages to the foam cushion to provide a readily attachable cover. Asnoted, the backing of the material 72 may be a loop-type or naturalnapped fuzzy backing, or alternatively, corresponding mating loopfastener members may be stitched or otherwise secured to the rearsurface of the cover material 72. It will be appreciated that the properalignment of the seat cover material with respect to the foam cushion isreadily obtainable by the multiplicity of attachments and relativepositions available through the use of the adapted separable fastener ofthe invention. Further, it can be appreciated that the adapted separablefastener of the invention can be utilized for a multitude ofapplications in which attachment can be made to other settable orcurable materials, including such materials as adhesives, cement or thelike.

By way of further example it is also possible to attach the adaptedfastener to any object such as a concrete or cement block wall and tothereafter attach objects such as wall paneling adapted to be separablyfastened to the adapted fastener strips.

FIG. 4 illustrates the adapted fastener in which a molded hook-tape isused as the fastener having upstanding hooks or spear-like membersmolded integrally with the base. FIG. 4A illustrates an alternate formof hook tape namely the woven type nylon or polyester hook tape havingupstanding monofilament hooks interwoven first as loops with the baseand thereafter cut to form hooks. This form may also be of knittedconstruction. FIG. 4B illustrates the use of mushroom tape being eitherof woven or knitted construction and having upstanding mushroom likemembers which are formed either by heat or other deforming techniques.Other alternate forms of hook tapes and substrates may be used topractice the invention and such tapes may be formed by a multitude offabricating techniques. It is important, however, that the membersutilized satisfy the above-noted parameters and that they areultrasonically compatible with each other and with the foam or othermaterial to which the adapted fastener is to be attached.

I claim:
 1. An adapted separable fastener for attachment to a foamplastic article comprising:(a) a separable fastener member having a basemember and a plurality of one portion of engaging elements upstandingfrom one surface thereof; (b) a second member attached to said separablefastener member in back to back engaged relation on the side of saidseparable fastener member opposite the side having said plurality ofupstanding engaging elements; and (c) a plurality of generally parallelspaced apart non-overlapping rows of individual spaced apartnon-overlapping monofilamentary loop elements upstanding from thesurface of said second member opposite the surface in engagement withsaid separable fastener member, said spaced apart monofilamentary loopelements each defined by two leg portions each attached at one end tosaid base member and connected to each other at the other end by aconnecting portion which completes said loop each of said spaced apartrows being sufficiently spaced from all adjacent rows and each said loopelement being so dimensioned and spaced with respect to adjacent loopelements that they may be substantially completely surrounded andencapsulated by foam plastic material which forms at least part of saidfoam plastic article thereby firmly attaching said separable fastenermember to said foam plastic article without the existence of delaminatedportions or trapped gases formed during foaming.
 2. The adaptedseparable fastener according to claim 1 wherein said second member iswoven separable fastener tape prior to cutting the loops to form hooks.3. The adapted separable fastener according to claim 1 wherein saidsecond member is adhesively attached to said separable fastener.
 4. Theadapted separable fastener according to claim 3 wherein said adhesive isa hot-melt adhesive.
 5. The adapted separable fastener according toclaim 3 wherein said adhesive is liquid based.
 6. The adapted separablefastener according to claim 5 wherein said adhesive is a solvent basedadhesive.
 7. The adapted separable fastener according to claim 5 whereinsaid adhesive is a water based resin.
 8. The adapted separable fasteneraccording to claim 3 wherein said adhesive is an epoxy resin.
 9. Anadapted separable fastener for attachment to a foam plastic articlecomprising:(a) a separable fastener member having a base member and aplurality of one portion of engaging elements upstanding from onesurface thereof; (b) a second member attached to said separable fastenermember in back to back engaged relation to the side of said separablefastener member opposite the side having said plurality of upstandingengaging elements; and (c) a plurality of generally parallel spacedapart non-overlapping rows of individual spaced apart non-overlappingmonofilamentary loop elements upstanding from the surface of said secondmember opposite the surface in engagement with said separable fastenermember, said spaced apart monofilamentary loop elements each defined bytwo leg portions each attached at one end to said base member and beingconnected at the other end by a connecting portion which completes saidloop, each of said spaced apart rows being sufficiently spaced from alladjacent rows and each loop element being spaced with respect to alladjacent loop elements so as to be capable of being surrounded andencapsulated by plastic foam forming components while facilitating thefree escape of gas by-products produced by polymerization of thecomponents thereby permitting substantial attachment of said secondmember and said separable fastener member to the finished foam article.10. The adapted separable fastener according to claim 9 wherein saidplurality of elements comprises spaced upstanding loop elementsextending from the surface of said second member opposite the surfaceattached to said separable fastener member.
 11. The adapted separablefastener according to claim 10 wherein said loops are between aboutone-eighth inch and about three-eighths inch in height.
 12. The adaptedseparable fastener according to claim 9 wherein said second member andsaid elements are hook-shaped separable fastener members.
 13. Theadapted separable fastener member according to any one of the claims1-12 further comprising a metal strip disposed between the separablefastener member and said second member.
 14. An adapted separablefastener for attachment to a foam plastic article comprising:(a) aseparable fastener member having a base member and a plurality of oneportion of engaging elements upstanding from one surface thereof; (b) asecond member attached to said separable fastener member in back to backengaged relation on the side of said separable fastener member oppositethe side having said plurality of upstanding engaging elements; and (c)a plurality of generally parallel spaced apart non-overlapping rows offreestanding substantially rigid individual spaced apart non-overlappingmonofilamentary loop elements upstanding from the surface of said secondmember opposite the surface in engagement with said separable fastener,said spaced apart monofilamentary loop elements each defined by two legportions each attached at the lower end to said base member andconnected to each other at the upper end by a connecting portion whichcompletes said loop, each row of said monofilament loop elements beingso spaced with respect to adjacent rows of loop elements and each loopelement being sufficiently spaced from all adjacent elements so thateach loop element may be substantially completely surrounded andencapsulated by foam plastic material during foam formation by liquidplastic foam forming components which form at least part of said foamplastic article thereby firmly attached said second member and saidseparable fastener member to said foam plastic article by fullabsorption of the liquid foam forming components without trapping gasesformed during said plastic foam formation thereby preventing thedevelopment of delaminated portions at the interface and surroundingarea between said second member and the plastic foam article.
 15. Acovered article with fabric covering comprising:(a) an object ofsynthetic foam material; (b) an elongated separable fastener memberhaving a surface defined by a plurality of one portion of engagingelements upstanding therefrom; (c) a second member ultrasonicallyattached to said separable fastener member in back to back engagedrelation on the surface of said separable fastener member opposite thesurface having said plurality of upstanding engaging elements; (d) aplurality of generally parallel spaced apart non-overlapping rows ofindividual spaced apart non-overlapping monofilamentary loop elementsupstanding from the surface of said second member opposite the surfacein engagement with said separable fastener member, said spaced apartmonofilament loop elements each defined by two leg portions eachattached at one end to said base member and connected to each other atthe other end by a connecting portion which completes said loop, each ofsaid spaced apart rows of monofilamentary loop elements beingsufficiently spaced from all adjacent rows of monofilamentary loopelements and each said loop element being so dimensioned and spaced withrespect to all adjacent loop elements that the loop elements aresubstantially completely surrounded and encapsulated by foam plasticmaterial which forms at least part of said foam plastic article therebyfirmly attaching said second member and said separable fastener memberto said foam plastic article without the existence of delaminatedportions of trapped gases formed during foaming; (e) fabric cover meansattached to said synthetic foam object by means of a surface ofcorresponding mating separable fastener means having a plurality of theother portion of mating engaging elements which engage with said firstmentioned portion of engaging elements of said separable fastener memberwhen said mating surfaces are pressed in face to face engaged relationsuch that said cover can be selectively attached and detached.
 16. Theadapted separable fastener as in any one of claims 1, 2, 9, 14 and 15,wherein said engaging elements of said separable fastener member are ofa shape selected from the group consisting of: hooks, spears, andmushrooms.